penguin

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[edit] English

An Adelie Penguin

[edit] Etymology

Unknown origin[1]. Possibly from Welsh pen ("head") and gwyn ("white"). See citations.

[edit] Pronunciation

  • enPR: pĕng'gwĭn, pĕn'gwĭn
  • (file)

[edit] Noun

penguin (plural penguins)

  1. Any of several flightless sea birds, of order Sphenisciformes, found in the Southern Hemisphere; marked by their usual upright stance, walking on short legs, and (generally) their stark black and white plumage.
  2. (slang) A nun.
  3. (juggling) A type of catch where the palm of the hand is facing towards the leg with the arm stretched downward, resembling the flipper of a penguin.

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Translations

[edit] References

  1. ^ T.F. Hoad, Concise Dictionary of English Etymology, ISBN 978-0-19-283098-2; headword penguin
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